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Elgar keeps steady but du Plessis scalp lifts Sri Lanka
- Updated: January 2, 2017
Tea Sri Lanka 147 for 4 (Elgar 76*, Bavuma 0*) v South AfricaLive scorecard and ball-by-ball details
The serious demeanour of Dean Elgar, a batsman not given to fripperies, stabilised South Africa on the opening day of the second Test at Newlands as Sri Lanka sought benefit from a good bowling day. A new year had dawned, but it was very much the old Elgar, recognisably sure of stroke and restricted in ambition, as he produced a conscientious unbeaten half-century.
Elgar was 76 not out at tea on a surface that Faf du Plessis, South Africa’s captain, had happily volunteered was intended to favour his strong pace attack. Even Table Mountain, adorned by cloud throughout the first session, came out in support.
But it was Sri Lanka who won first use of a firm, grassy surface. Two wickets late in the morning session – making three in all – for Lahiru Kumara ensured they achieved what was surely a minimum objective when the odds were most in their favour, and the addition of du Plessis shortly before tea brought them further reward on an otherwise trying afternoon.
Du Plessis had been unabashed about the fact that the Newlands pitch looked fresher than the one that met England at Newlands a year ago. “Against England last year it was a road,” he said. “It was different for that bowling attack. You have to prepare for the team you are playing against.”
Stephen Cook was the Man of the Match in Port Elizabeth, striking a century and half-century in South Africa’s emphatic 206-run win, but he made a four-ball duck on this occasion: two outswingers and an inswinger from Suranga Lakmal before another outswinger, slightly fuller, forced Cook into a statuesque nibble and a faint edge to the …
